Our Jaunt to Jekyll Island

Ornamental Kale on Jekyll Island

The first time I remember noticing colorful ornamental kale was when Beloved and I were house-hunting in Seattle, over forty years ago. (yes, that long!) Little did I know this beautiful accessory to landscaping would one day be important to my diet.

Well, let me take that back. Yes, you can eat ornamental kale, but the Internet tells me it's not quite as taste-worthy as the usual edible (green) kale. I've never tasted the colorful version. But I do appreciate the nutritional benefits of a variety of dark leafy greens, kale being one of them.

And I need to make one more disclaimer here. Although I have eaten more kale in the past four years than most of my contemporaries (because anything worth doing is worth overdoing, right???) I seldom eat it now because it doesn't get along well with my daily thyroid pill. 

You are aware, I hope, that there are some foods that inhibit the effectiveness of some prescription medications.  Read all that tiny print that comes on the pamphlet with your pills and you can find this out for yourself. 

Anyway, ornamental kale is just beautiful and I'm delighted to see it is grown here on the East Coast.  It does not do well in the Rocky Mountain High because the growing season is too short. I was so pleased to see some during our day trip visit to Jekyll Island, Georgia. 

Sidney Lanier Bridge

My last post was cut short (which was just as well because it was getting too long) as we were leaving Brunswick via the Sidney Lanier bridge to poke around Jekyll Island.  

porch of the visitors' center on approach to Jekyll Island

By the time we decided to do this, afternoon was in process, so it had to be quick. However I still managed to convince Beloved to pay the required $6 to go through the entry gate and then drive a bridge to get onto the island.  We understand now that one can purchase an annual pass, which is better for the residents and shop keepers.  

Let me just be frank enough to say that paying a fee like that helps to keep the crime rate down. Thieves don't generally fork over a fee to do their ner-do-well activities.

Beloved dwarfed by palms

Once we got onto the island, we found free parking in a very tidy upscale shopping area, near the Westin Hotel. As you can tell by our wardrobe choices, the weather was not suitable for swim togs and flip flops, which also probably had a lot to do with why we saw very few people. But I'm not complaining, you understand.

boardwalk over the sand dunes and sea oats

Just steps from that last photo was an entrance to the beach on the Atlantic Ocean side of the island. The boardwalk was wider than most I've seen on other beaches, and in excellent condition to transport us to expansive views of the sand and surf.

my model's pose

Yes, this is me. (if a person my age hasn't learned to laugh at themselves, then they're in a sorry state). No lipstick, hair a-blowin', a thick scarf knotted at my throat, and shirttail hanging out... I asked my photographer to snap this picture so you can see how huge the beach is in comparison to my stature, but he doesn't always think to recommend I tidy up first.

looking south

That is all hard-packed sand out there. We were able to easily walk on it without the granules getting inside our shoes. This reminded me of the sand at Daytona Beach, which is so solid you can drive cars on it without fear of getting stuck.

offerings from the ocean

There were occasional clumps of sea weed and pieces of driftwood, (artsy, I think). Farther north on the island is a driftwood beach that I hope to see on another visit sometime.

the underside of a tall palm tree that's got 'freezer burn' from our cold winter

The sights were beautiful, restful, but as already observed, it was windy. We walked back to the car and took a leisurely drive around much of the island.

The homes ranged from simple (but tidy) to grand, with pristine yards. I don't know what they cost, and maybe it's just best that I not so my dreams are not totally destroyed.

where to eat

We did not stop to eat since it had not been all that long when we had brunch at Hungry Hannah's, but I have put this place on my mental list for our return trip.

both indoor and outside dining were available

I can just picture myself sitting at one of these tables while wearing white shorts, a blue cotton blouse, my sparkly flip flops and sun glasses, silver dangly earrings, and drinking sweet tea (of course!) with a fried fish burger and cole slaw. Hmm, and maybe a fruity sorbet for dessert!

boats docked in mud at low tide

BUT, let's enjoy that meal at high tide, when the boats are floating and not resting atop solid mud! This picture from the restaurant was taken as we looked across the Jekyll River over to Brunswick (see the Sidney Lanier bridge in the distance). The tide was not only low, it was O.U.T. and not an ugly sight, but kinda shocking to see.

a very old, very large tree on Jekyll Islando

Alas, the sun was heading deeper into the west, so we decided to hit the road for the drive back to Jacksonville. We certainly wouldn't want to miss out on all that rush hour traffic!

To sum up our little foray onto Jekyll Island -- we want to go back to see more of the sights, maybe play in the ocean water just a bit, and eat. Alway eat. The ocean makes me hungry!